Rainwater Scanned & PDF Obituaries and Death-Related Articles

Accidental Death and Murder
Adam Benton Rainwater, 1860-1932, Missouri
Adolphus Bernard Rainwater, 1881-1920, Georgia
Franklin Pierce Rainwater, 1892-1925, South Carolina
Howard Rainwater, 1875-1894, Alabama
James H. Rainwater, 1881-1904, Missouri
William Brasher Rainwater, March 1897, Missouri

Other Old Obituaries (1870-1990) in PNG or PDF format
Contemporary (1990+) Obituaries in PDF or PNG format

Obituaries A-K and Profiles
Obituaries J-Z

Adam Benton Rainwater, 1860-1932, Missouri

Jefferson City Post-Tribune, Jefferson City, MO, 6 Jul 1932

Recluse is slain near Springfield
Springfield, MO., July 6 — (AP) — A. B. Rainwater, 72-year-old bachelor recluse, was found shot to death in his lonely farm home three and a half miles southeast of Pittsburg, Mo., Hickory County, at 11 o’clock last night. Coroner L. A. Glasco estimated that the old man had been dead 48 hours. A shotgun was found nearby.

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Adolphus Bernard Rainwater, 1881-1920, Georgia

Spartanburg Herald, Spartanburg, SC, 9 Nov 1920

Macon, GA — A. B. Rainwater, a switchman was instantly killed and three other white men were injured when two switch engines side-swiped each other in the Southen railroad yards here late tonight. Rainwater, who was standing on the pilot of one engine, was thrown under the engine wheels and his body badly mangled.

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Franklin Pierce Rainwater, 1892-1925, South Carolina

Because of the length of these articles, they are being offered in scanned versions. The basic facts are these: On 20 August 1925, Franklin P. Rainwater, a furniture dealer from Cheraw, SC, was found by passers-by dead in his auto, which appeared to have run off the road. He had been shot four times and the gun had been thrown some distance from the car. These articles do not present a conclusive theory, other than murder, and do not include coverage of the trial, if there was one.

The articles, dated 21 August through 10 September, 1925, are from The Spartanburg Herald. Coverage starts with the original crime and ends with the preliminary hearing for one of the accused.

Some readers may find offensive the obsession with race in these articles.

"Officers baffled by mystery around killing of Cheraw citizen found dead in auto; F. P. Rainwater is found by passing Tourists", 21 Aug 1925
"Arrest of white in Rainwater case is expected to come soon", 23 Aug 1925
"New clues found in investigation of Cheraw case", 28 Aug 1925
"Veil of deep secrecy around murder of merchant in Cheraw: prominent man is implicated", 29 Aug 1925
"No rift is seen in veil around Cheraw mystery", 30 Aug 1925
"Mitchell will get preliminary heading today", 10 Sep 1925

Howard Rainwater, 1875-1894, Alabama

The New York Times, 12 July 1894

Fatal Duel in Alabama
Birmingham, Ala., July 11 — James Spears and Howard Rainwater, aged seventeen and nineteen years respectively, fought a duel in the woods near Liberty¹ early this morning. The trouble grew out of a rivalry for the affections of a young woman. Rainwater was killed and Spears locked up. Both young fellows had been drinking.

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¹ Dekalb County

James H. Rainwater, Jr., 1881-1904, Missouri

The Evening News, San Jose, CA, 7 Nov 1904

Young Man is Fatally Shot; Girl fires pistol from satchel
Carthage, MO, Nov 7 — Just as he was about to leave on the Missouri Pacific train for Kansas City this morning, Jim Rainwater was fatally shot through the stomach, by Pearl Sykes, a young girl. The shooting took place at the depot. Rainwater’s uncle having just purchased a ticket for his nephew to go to Kansas City where he was to enlist in the Navy. The girl fired her pistol from within a small satchel that she carried in one hand by putting the the other inside, raising up the satchel and pulling the trigger. She was arrested and is now in jail.

William Brasher Rainwater, 1858-1897, Missouri

The New York Times, 23 March 1897

Whole family murdered: jealous farmer kills his wife, her relatives, and then himself

Kansas City, March 22 — Bee Rainwater, a farmer living in Orrick, Ray County, murdered his wife, his mother-in-law, Mrs. William Artman; Ethel Gentry, his step-daughter, and John Thurman¹, a step-brother, and then blew his brains out, Saturday evening.

Saturday night, Rainwater went over from his place to the Artman house to visit his wife and children. He was annoyed by some dogs barking in the orchard, and said to Thurman: "Johnny, lets kill those dogs." Thurman took a shotgun and Rainwater a revolver and they left the house. When they had gone about fifty yards Rainwater without having said a word, shot him dead.

Rainwater then hurried back to the house. He had brought back the gun which Thurman had taken out, and this he leveled at Mrs. Artman’s head saying: "D--- you, I've got you all." Mrs. Artman threw up her hands as Rainwater fired, the charge of the shot carrying off every one of her fingers and the right side of her head.

He then shot his wife and stepdaughter. Afterward he reloaded the gun, and, going to the front of the house, shot himself.

Jealousy and a belief that his mother-in-law was interfering with his domestic affairs is believed to have been the cause of Rainwater’s crime. He and his wife had frequently quarrled.

¹ One article gives this man’s surname as Thurman; the other article as Artman.

Other Old Obituaries (1870-1990) in PNG or PDF format

Rainwater Surname
Ada Rainwater, 1882-1907, Washoe Co., NV
Ada Rainwater, 1905-1976, Columbia Co., WA
Bera Etta Stringfellow Rainwater, 1892-1988 Tallapoosa Co., AL
Bertha Rainwater, 1949, Dallas Co., TX
Cleo Rainwater, 1956, Dallas Co., TX
Dalton L. Rainwater, 1892-1949, Dallas Co., TX
Ernest W. Rainwater, 1900-1957, Dallas Co., TX
Ethel Helen Rainwater, 1905-1958, Dallas Co., TX
Frank D. Rainwater, 1876-1955, Dallas Co., TX
Fred Rainwater, 1893-1904, Columbia Co., WA
George A. Rainwater, 1971, Dallas, TX
Harvey A. Rainwater, 1929, Mexia, Limestone Co., TX
Harold M. Rainwater, 1895-1976, Columbia Co., WA
Harriett Goddard Rainwater, 1842-1938, Hamilton Co., TX
Hollis Chandler Rainwater, 1898-1977, Dallas, TX
Hosea Milton Rainwater, 1870-1953, Bell Co., TX
Jimmie Rainwater, 1912-1962, Skagit Co., WA
Kathryn Newell Rainwater, 1895-1960, Columbia Co., WA
Leonard C. Rainwater, 1885-1961, Spokane Co., WA
Lloyd N. Rainwater Sr., 1891-1972, Columbia Co., WA
Lois Rainwater, 26 Nov 1947, Herald-Tribune, Sarasota, FL
Lois Cannon Rainwater, 1904-1968, Tuscaloosa, AL
Luther Lee Rainwater, 1899-1957, Mineral Wells, TX
Martha Reba (Mrs. Ben L.) Rainwater, 1916-1960, Rome, GA
Mary Katherine Rainwater, 1969, Dallas, TX
Presley Rainwater, 1866-1946, Columbia Co., WA
Retha Casey Rainwater, 1955, Dallas Co., TX
Robert L. Rainwater, 1887-1982, Indianapolis, IN
Sarah Elizabeth Eledge Rainwater Allen, 1896-1987, Spartanburg, SC
Thomas L. Rainwater, 27 Aug 1968, Cape Girardeau, MO

Rainwater Maiden Name
Etta Rainwater Dale, 1879-1936, Columbia Co., WA
Delilah Rainwater Finkle, 1868-1921, Columbia Co., WA
Alice Rainwater Green, ca 1860-1945, Columbia Co., WA
Martha Susan Rainwater Neal, 1843-1932, Columbia Co., WA
Ellen Rainwater Robinson, ca 1860-1942, WA
Mattie Rainwater Burch Siler, ca 1889-1972, Bell Co., TX
Frances Rainwater Spoonemore, Jul 1950, Columbia Co., WA
Dollie Rainwater Thornton, 1901-1954, Goree, Knox Co., TX

Contemporary (1990+) Obituaries in PDF or PNG format

Rainwater Surname
Annette Cannon Rainwater, 2 Apr 2000, Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, GA
Avis Rainwater, 30 Aug 1997, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
Bobbie Jean Rainwater, 1937-2003, Jackson, GA
Bessie Melissa Rainwater, 20 Feb 1999, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
Brown Veazey Rainwater, March 1999, Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, FL
Carrie Leta Rainwater, 12 Nov 2000, Miscellaneous Lea Co., NM
Cecil Rainwater, Jr., 31 May 2005, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Clarabell Young Rainwater, 31 Oct 1999, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
Clois Miles Rainwater, 9 Jan 2010, Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home, Bonham, Fannin Co., TX
Clyde Rainwater, 23 Sep 2007, The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA
Dean Rainwater, 17 Oct 2003, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA
Dayle G. Rainwater, 16 Dec 2008, Dayton, WA
Dewey Wilbur Rainwater, 23 Jul 2003, Everett Herald, Everett, WA
Dorothy F. Rainwater, May 1999, Fostoria.org, Forstoria, OH
Dorothy Roots Rainwater, 3 June 2007, Central Kentucky News Journal, Campbellsville, KY
Fae Bailey Rainwater, 1994, Columbia Co., WA
Forrest A. Rainwater, 16 Aug 1999 Temple Daily Telegram, Temple, Bell Co., TX
Frances W(and) Rainwater, 9 Nov 1995, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Fort Worth, TX
Harvey L. Rainwater, 13 Jul 1998, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX
Hilman Rainwater, 19 Nov 2009, Belleville News-Democrat, Millstadt, St. Clair Co., IL
Inez Ward Rainwater, 30 Sep 2003, SE Missourian.com, Cape Girardeau, MO
Jack Pershing Rainwater, 22 Dec 2002, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX
James Rainwater (of Valdosta, GA), 15 Dec 2004, Enid News, Enid, OK
James Clay Rainwater, 14 Nov 2001, Central Kentucky News-Journal, Campbellton, KY
James H. Rainwater, Jr., 31 Aug 2000, East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR
James Kirk Rainwater, 10 Sep 2004, The Messenger, Hartsville, SC
Jetahn Floyd Rainwater, 8 Nov 1998, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
John Silas Rainwater, Jr., 25 Mar 2003, McClendon-Winters Funeral Home, Okmulgee, OK
Joyce Rainwater, 10 Jul 2001, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX
June Marie Cross Rainwater, 24 Aug 2001, Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX
Kenneth M. Rainwater, 10 Mar 2005, Lake Hamilton Voice, Lake Hamilton, AR
Larry Allen Rainwater, Sr., 4 Aug 1995, The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, AR
Leonard Rainwater, 24 Jun 2007, death notices from the Austin American Statesman and San Angelo Standard Times
Lewellyn Dean Rainwater, 17 Oct 2003, Seattle Times, Seattle, WA
Louise Rainwater, 16 Feb 2009, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, East Point, GA
Manford Rainwater, 28 Nov 1997, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM
Marian R. Rainwater, 6 Apr 2005, The Chattanoogan, Chattanooga, TN
Marjorie Rainwater, 21 Jul 1998, The Standard-Times Online, San Angelo, TX
Mary Frances Rainwater, 29 June 2007, Selma Times Journal, Selma, AL
Mattie Lee Rainwater, 16 Apr 2001, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
Maudie Hand Rainwater, 1917-2004, Alexander City, AL
Myrtis Cox Rainwater, 9 Nov 1999, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
Nancy Jane McIlhaney Rainwater, 4 Feb 2010, Irving, TX, Genforum obituary
Ralph D. Rainwater, 20 Feb 2004, The Citizen, Fayette Co., GA
Raymond Carl Rainwater, 13 May 1997, The Standard-Times Online, San Angelo, TX
Richard Morris Rainwater, 26 Aug 1999, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, GA
Robert Martin Rainwater, 15 Apr 1993, Gadsden Times, Gadsden, AL
Ruby C. Rainwater, 17 Jul 2001, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX
Sheryl Denise Rainwater, 3 Jan 2004, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX
Thelma May Rainwater, 12 Aug 2009, Washington Post, Washington, DC
Thomas Leslie Rainwater, 16 Mar 2005, Farley, Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek, MI
Velma Louise Rainwater, 11 May 2002, Amarillo Globe News Online
W. H. "Red" Rainwater, 5 Sep 1997, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, TX
William A. "Bill" Rainwater, 20 Nov 2004, Lampasas Dispatch Record, Lampasas, TX
William Albert Rainwater, 26 Jan 2004, Snyder Daily News, Snyder, TX
William David Rainwaters, 14 Aug 2001, Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID
William David Rainwaters, 14 Aug 2001, Daily News Online, Bowling Green, KY
Zella Tarter Rainwater, 28 Mar 2002, Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, KY

Rainwater Maiden Name
Ida Mae Rainwater Bulgin, 19 Jul 1999, Digital Missourian, Columbia, MO
OraNell Rainwater DeFrance, 12 Feb 2002, Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID
Belvadine Rainwater Gregory, 17 Jan 2001, Daily News Online, Bowling Green, KY
Dixie Rainwater Gregory, 1910-2000, prob. Midland Telegraph-Reporter, Texas
Alla May Rainwater Hale, 20 May 2001, Danville Advocate Messenger, Danville, KY
Mary Christine Rainwater Hildreth, 30 Jun 2007, Collinsville Herald, Collinsville, TN
Mary Ruth Rainwater Horner, 23 Jan 2003, Shinn Funeral Service, Russellville, AR
Myrtis Rainwater Keel, 1921-2005, Alexander City, AL
Ruby Rainwaters Keeton, 22 Aug 1999, Daily News online edition, Bowling Green, KY
Lucy Deane Rainwater Sutton, 16 Oct 2001, Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX